Onslow government: Here's what to know about the county's proposed 2023 budget

As the COVID-19 pandemic calms down, Onslow County government has been working to create the 2023 budget.

The Onslow County manager and Board of Commissioners have recently completed the proposed budget for fiscal year 2023. Since the new fiscal year begins July 1, they must adopt the budget by June 30, alike other local governments.

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"The budget approved by our Board of Commissioners is the most important document produced by Onslow County Government, because it provides a transparent account of how the County utilizes revenues to serve the critical needs of the public, including safety, public health, emergency medical care, and many other services that support our way of life," said Onslow County Manager Sharon Griffin in the proposed budget's introduction.

Here's what to know about the proposed budget for Onslow County fiscal year 2023.

Key points

"The upcoming fiscal year approaches at a time of significant challenges," Griffin said in the introduction. "Onslow County continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our staff is working to improve processes and find new ways of managing widespread pandemic and community vaccination needs."

Griffin said as local businesses continue to recover, financial markets have continued to decline and become increasingly unstable due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She said supply chain issues worsened, as well as replacement vehicles and equipment orders cancelled.

"We are currently experiencing record inflation nationwide, with the largest spike in consumer prices in more than 40 years," Griffin said in the document. "Locally, gas and grocery prices have soared. We continue to focus on sustaining our workforce to retain the most talented, dedicated employees to ensure our citizens receive the best customer service possible."

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She added the county also continues to face the "exciting challenge" of rapid growth.

Griffin said the county was also awarded $38.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 funds. These funds will be used to hire additional public health staff, provide pandemic pay, expand the Emergency Operations Center, and build a safe building for senior services.

"Additional funds are being devoted to expand mental health services for citizens, purchase communications equipment to help keep B-1 citizens informed during times of emergency and crisis, and provide grant funding that will bring needed affordable housing to the community," Griffin said in the document.

The Board of Commissioners has set goals for the upcoming year, that the budget will be used to accomplish.

Safety of Onslow residents

The board has a goal of investing in the safety of Onslow County residents by providing the necessary resources to support public health, public safety and the general welfare of the community, the budget states.

The budget document says the population of Onslow has grown 15.1% in the last 10 years, dispatches of Emergency Medical Services have increased 12.3% in the last year, and the sheriff's office also continues to see an increase in needs.

"To address growing public safety needs, the proposed budget includes additional paramedic positions, two new ambulances, three new deputy B-3 positions, and a new investigative sergeant," the document says.

Board of Commissioners chairman Jack Bright said the need for help in these areas is high, as there are many EMS folks and residents concerned about the shortages and their response times.

Workforce, pay scale, labor shortages

Another major goal for the board is the workforce and the extreme labor shortages Onslow County is facing.

The budget's stated goal is to "maintain a quality workforce, and recruit and hire top talent by ensuring that we advertise recruitment efforts effectively. Support current employees’ professional development with training and growth opportunities."

"Right now, we have right at 170 vacancies that we haven't been able to fill, and the main reason of that is the surrounding counties are giving these enormous pay increases, cost of living increases because of the economy," Bright told The Daily News.

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He said the county is short detention officers, department of social services workers, EMS people, and other departments, adding they're going to have to find a way to address these shortages and compensate their employees to keep them here.

"Right now, it's going to be hard for some of our employees that are on the low end of the pay scale to even be able to come to work and buy fuel and stuff," Bright said. "It's extremely difficult, and we're not the only ones, it's nationwide the same thing and it's also a lot of the big companies. The hospital is facing that, the school is facing that with school bus drivers and teachers and everybody is in the same boat, we've just got to figure out how to keep it afloat."

He said this problem didn't happen gradually, but rather almost immediately when surrounding counties gave enormous pay raises. He added people wanted to stay but figured if they could go across county lines and make more money, they might go for it.

"I don't think a lot of them take into consideration, if they live here, and they have to drive long distances to get that bigger pay, they're going to end up putting it in their gas tank," Bright said.

Do not raise property tax rate

Bright said one of the biggest things the board is currently looking at is reducing the tax rate. He said they are going to have more discussions because the revaluation came in at high numbers as far as property values.

He said Griffin proposed they reduce the tax rate to take some of the edge off.

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"I think the tax rate she's proposing is reduce it by five cents," Bright said. "That's $1.9 million per penny, and we're reducing the tax rate to keep it from hurting our property owners. That's our revenue sources, property tax. So, we're doing that, but we probably are not going to go totally revenue neutral because we have so much growth in the county, we've got to provide the services."

Bright added that Griffin has proposed an 8% COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) increase for some folks to make things more equal, so there won't be a disparity.

Funding for fire departments

The budget stated that another goal for the board is to pursue a dedicated funding source for volunteer fire departments.

The budget said that currently, 11 of the fire station buildings the county funds are 40 or more years old, and one is more than 70 years old. The document adds that also, over the next five years, nine fire engines, two tankers, two service units, and three brush units will need to be replaced at an estimated cost of $8.2 million.

"Calls for fire department assistance increased in Onslow County by 17.4% in the last year," the document states. "While the need for firefighters in our growing community increases, fire stations are facing serious staffing issues, losing 13% of enrolled volunteer firefighters just over the past two years. As the volunteer numbers continue to decline, more incentives for volunteers and more paid staffing will be necessary."

Additional goals and funds

The other two goals the board is focusing on include; "developing a plan that establishes a vision, strategy, funding mechanism, and desired outcomes and expectations for the development of Burton Park and other county-owned properties;" as well as "enhance the quality of life for Onslow County residents by investing in quality educational facilities, recreational opportunities, and cultural resources."

In addition, the general fund budget sits at $256,843,319, which includes a new initiative to fund five service, as well as mandated services the county must legally provide.

These include education, which the document states is one of the biggest expenses, as well as workers' compensation, health insurance, Burton Park, Capital reserve, disaster recovery, and revaluation.

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Other funds include the Proprietary Fund Solid Waste at $8,599,097, the Proprietary Fund Albert J. Ellis Airport at $4,331,365, Capital Reserve Fund at $7,655,259 (build schools and pay debt service on school buildings), Special Revenue Funds at $2,503,161 (Emergency 911 Communications Fund, Register of Deeds Automation Fund, and the Helping Neighbors Fund), and the Capital Improvements Funds at $740,000.

Capital improvements for the new budget include replacing the floor in the probation/parole building, installing a training room at the pistol range, and repairs at numerous county facilities to include roofs, parking lots, and HVACs.

"Luckily, we have a healthy fund balance, so, we're probably going to be able to address those shortages and the pay scale, but we have to do it in a process," Bright said.

Bright said the budget public hearing and budget presentation by the manager will take place on June 6 at 11 a.m.

Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Here's what to know about Onslow's proposed 2023 budget